Adjusting cattle diets to depleting pastures
MANHATTAN, Kan. — As summer advances and the grazing pastures begin to mature and dry up, beef producers may need to look at alternative plans for meeting the maintenance requirements of the herd, according to the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.
Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said that producers first need to calculate the number of animals in the herd compared to the feed resources available.
“If a summer drought happens and grazing options are limited, producers may need to look at poorer performing crop fields as a potential feed resource,” Lancaster said. “In some cases, it is best to harvest the crop as a feed resource before it dries up completely and has no value.”
With summer pastures in drought, Lancaster reminds producers to be careful not to overgraze them.
“If the pasture gets overgrazed, it will hurt the rebound of the grass for the next grazing season,” he said.
K-State veterinarian Brad White added: “If you allow the cows to graze the grass down to the ground, it can damage the root structure of the plant, so it is better to let the pastures rest for 21-35 days.”
While the pastures are resting, limit feeding the cows – or offering feed at certain times of the day rather than letting cattle eat at their own will — in a dry lot is a management option, according to Lancaster.
“Limit feeding the cows a moderate energy diet requires you to calculate the right ration and can be labor intensive because you’ve got to provide enough bunk space for all the cows to eat at the same time,” Lancaster said.
If cows are kept out on pasture but supplemented with additional nutrients, Lancaster said it is important to monitor the protein and carbohydrates.
“Forages are mostly carbohydrates and those are important in providing the energy that the cows need to maintain their body condition,” he said.
White adds: “Keep an eye on the pastures, (and) make the decision to pull the cows sooner rather than later with the long-term implications for that pasture in mind.”
To hear more on this topic, listen in to the BCI Cattle Chat podcast online.
FOR PRINT PUBLICATIONS: Links used in this story
BCI Cattle Chat podcast, https://ksubci.org/2021/07/09/fly-control-euthanasia-drought-management-supplement-stocker-cattle/
K State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Story by:
Lisa Moser
785-532-2010
[email protected]
More information:
Phillip Lancaster
785-532-6323
[email protected]
Brad White
785-532-4243
[email protected]
